Fountain brush



July 22, .1952 R. B. MAEs'TAs FOUNTAIN BRUSH Filed July 26, 1949 [Id/ll),

I M H 7 RAYMOND B. MAESTAS,

A T TORNE K Patented July 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOUNTAIN BRUSH Raymond B. Macstas, Los Angeles, Calif. Application July 26, 1949, Serial No. 106,896

This invention relates to washing devices and more particularly to a hand held device which is controllable to deliver either a solution of water and a cleaning compound or a clear water for rinsing the article cleaned.

The device of the present invention is one which may be used to thoroughly clean any article desired, and as the delivery therefrom of the cleaning solution or clear rinsing water is controlled by means of a single actuator, the operation of the device is extremely simple. The cleaning action of the device is further enhanced by the provision of bristle elements through which the cleaning solution is delivered during the washing operation. Thus the article is cleaned both by the action of the solution and the scrubbing action of the bristles as the latter are moved over the article.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention the device includes an outer container having a handle element through which a supply of water is delivered into the container. The container is formed with a perforated wall portion through which the water is delivered into the bristles during the rinsing operation. A smaller or inner vessel mounted within the container is intended to hold a supply of the cleaning compound which may consist of powdered soap, granular detergent, or the like, which is to be intermixed with or dissolved in the Water supplied to the device during the cleaning operation. To this end, means are provided for diverting the flow of water through the apertured wall portion of the outer container into the vessel to intermix with the compound held thereby.

The solution of water and cleaning compound is discharged from the inner vessel through an apertured plate closing the opened end of the vessel and which is movable relative to the apertured wall portion of the outer container. Water is passed into the vessel through an apertured wall which is engaged by a second apertured plate which is movable relative to the apertured wall of the vessel. The relative movement between the plate and the wall is brought about by means of an actuator mounted on the exterior of the device which when operated also produces relative movement between the first plate and the apertured wall of the outer container.

The apertures in the wall portion of the outer 9 Claims. (Cl. 15129) wall of the inner vessel and the plate engaged thereby that when the first mentioned apertures are in alignment or in registry the second named apertures are out of registry. Thus in one position of the actuator water delivered into the outer container will flow into the vessel to intermix with the compound held thereby and thence be discharged into the bristles of the device. By operation of the single actuator communication between the interiors of the vessel and container is destroyed and water delivered into the outer container flows directly into the bristles of the device.

As itis not necessary to have a high rate'of flow of the water during the cleaning operation, as a high rate of flow would unnecessarily dissipate the cleaning compound, valve means are carried by the handle element for restricting the flow of Water into the device during the cleaning operation. When the article cleaned is to be rinsed the valve may be operated to permit a large volume flow through the container to insure a goodly supply of clear water for the rinsing operation.

Other features and advantages of the device of the present invention will be hereinafter ap- I parent from the following description, particularly when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which: 7

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the device of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a section taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a section taken along line 4-4 of Figure 1.

The washing device of the present invention, referring now to the drawing and more particularly to Figure 1 thereof, comprises a body member III which includes a pair of substantially cylindrical open ended, nested enclosures H and I2 integrally formed with the open ends thereof oppositely facing. The container formed by the enclosure H includes a cylindrical wall element l3 and a transversely extending annular wall element M. The vessel formed by the enclosure l2 includes a cylindrical wall element l5 and a circular wall element IS. The open end of the container l I is closed by a closure I! having an annular depending flange I8 threadedly engaging the cylindrical wall 13 adjacent the open end of the container. To seal the join-- ture between the wall l3 and the closure I! a gasket [9 of some suitable resilient material is located boss 2| having an opening therethrough for passing the reduced end of a spindle 22. The lower end of the spindle is passed through an opening formed in a centrally located boss 23 carried by the wall element l6 and the free end thereof extending beyond the boss 23 is rigidly secured by any conventional means such as by a brazing operation, in a centrally located aperture formed in a plate 24 facewisely engaging the inner surface ofthe wall element It. reduced end of the spindle 23 projects upwardly beyond the boss 2| and has secured thereto an actuator knob 25, the actuator, knob being fixed to the spindle by a conventional set screw as shown. 7

The wall of the opening through the boss 2! is formed with a groove for receiving an annular gasket 25 which seals the annular space between the reduced end of the spindle 22 and the open ing. Asimilar vgasket 2! is seated in a groove formed in the wall of the opening in the boss '23 and seals the passage of the spindle thrcughthe opening in this boss.

As the end of the spindle 22 is secured in the opening of the plate 24, rotation of the actuating knob will rotate the plate 2 5 relative'to the wall element [6. The wall element I6 is formed with aplurality of radially extending, spaced apertures 28 which are adapted to be brought into registry with similarly spaced apertures 29 formed in the plate 24 when the latter is rotate bly moved by actuation of the knob 25.

, Rigidly secured to the undersurface or exposed face ofv the plate 24 are a plurality of elongate arms '3-l each formed at the free ends thereof with fingers 732' adapted to be received within open ings 33 formed in a plate 34 or. a diameter sub v stantially equal to 'theinner diameter of the container Ill, The plate 3 is held in facewise en-i gagement with the annular wall element l4 by a bristle mounting board 35 detachably held to a ring 36 by means of headed studs 3'! carried by the ring 36. The headed. studs 37 may comprise bolts'threaded into blind tapped openings formed in the ring 36. The studs 3'] are passed downwardly through openings 33 formed in the mounting board 35, after which the mounting board'is rotated to relatively move the bolts through slots 39 arcuately extending from the openings 38. As the head of the stud 3! is larger than the width of the slots 39, the mounting board 35 is detachably held against removal from, the ring 38.

The ring36 in turn is held to the body mem-- ber H] by means of a plurality of cam'lugs 4i and. 42. The lugs G! are spacedly formed about the inner diameter of the ring 36 and are movable through the openings between the lugs 42 which are carried by the body member H3, after which the ring and the mounting board 35 carried thereby can berotated to move the lugs M over the lugs d2. As the lugs 42 are formed withupwardly directed surfaces at the top thereof,'as viewed in Figure 1, the camming action between these inclined surfaces and the undersurface of the lugs ti will draw the ring up tightly against the undersurface of thefiange' of the body member 153. It should now be obvious that after the ring 36 has been locked to the lugs '42 of the body member ill, the mounting board35 will hold the plate 3 3 in facewiseengage'ment'with the unde'rsurface' of the annular wall element 15. i 1

, Theannular wall element M is formed with The a plurality of spaced, radially extending apertures 63 which in certain positions of the plate 34 register with apertures (a l formed in the latter. As the finger 32 of the arms 3! depending from the plate 24 are engaged in the openings 33 of the plate 34, rotation of the plate 24 will simultaneously bring about rotation of the plate 34. The openings 29 in the plate 24 are so spaced therein that as these apertures are moved into registry with the apertures ZEo'f' the plate of the wall element it the apertures ll of the plate 3 are moved out of registry with the openings It should be noted that the mounting board apertures 35 and that the upper face of this board. is centrally relieved to form a circular chamber Gt intermediate the plate as and the mounting board 35.

It will now be understood that liquid delivered into the container H when the apertures 43 and 44 are in alignment will flow through the passage formed by. the aligned apertures 43 and 44 into the chamber 46 and thence be discharged through theapertures -45 of the bristle mounting board 35. v

Liquid is introduced into the container H through a handle element 4! which comprises a tubular element threadedly mounted in a tapped opening formed in a boss efiearried by the dylindrical wall element l3 of the body,-member ill. The free or outer end of the handle ele ment &1 is formed with a conventional female connector member 49 for receiving the male coupling member ioff a fiexi ble hose ,elementfil.

A valve'fiz rotatablymoun-ted inthe handle el ement ll controls the how of liquid through the handle element andis actuatedL by an operating knob 53, The valve 52 in one positionthereof permits free flow of a liquid through the handle element 4'! and by appropriate manipulation of the operating knob 53 selectively restricts the flow until it is moved to a position in which liquid will flow through the handle element My. In the use or" the device of the present invention the vessel formed by the enclosure 12 is intended to receive cleaning. materials such ,as granulated soap} detergents, and other like compounds, which are to be intermixed with liquid'such as water, introduced into the device through the handle element ll. When it'is desired to wash an article the actuator knob 25 used to so rotatably move the plate 24 as to bring the apertures 28 and 29 into registry to afford communication from the interior of the container i I to the interior of the vessel I2. It will be remembered that when the apertures 28 and 29 are aligned or in registry, apertures 43 and M of the wall element 13 and plate 3 1%, respectively, are out of registry. Thus water :introduced into the container 1 l is vforcedte flow into the passages formed by the alignedapertures 28 and 29v to be intermixed with the cleaning compounds held by the vessel after which they are discharged through the apertures 4d formed in the central portion of the plate 34 extending across the open end of the vessel l2. 1 o r The solution of cleaningcompound and water passed through the apertures's l enters the cham ber 46 and is then discharged through the openings 45 through the bristles 54 onto the article being cleaned; After the article has been thoroughly' cleaned by theaction of the bristles 54 and the solution of cleaning compound and water, the article may be rinsed by actuating the knob 25 to "move the plate 2 5 to :the position in'whic-h the apertures 28 and-29' arena longer aligned,.whi'ch closes the flow of water into the interior of the vessel l2. As the plate 34 is connected to the plate 24 for rotation therewith by the arms 3|, movement of the p1ate' 24 brings about-rotation of the plate 34' to-br'ing apertures 43 and into alignment and water flows therethrough and is discharged intothe bristles 54. 4

As water 'can' now no longer flow through the vessel [2, the water discharged through the bristles 54 contains no cleaning compound and consequently the article can be quickly-rinsed by the clear Water dischargedthrough-the bristles. It

might be mentionedhere that during the cleaning operation the flow-of water into the vessel 12 can be lessened 'by proper manipulationof the valve operator 53, as in this operation it is not necessary thatalarger amount of water be discharged from the device. :This' is not done of course in the rinsing operation for here a large amount of clear water is necessary to properly rinse the article cleaned so that during the rinsing operation the valve 52 should be so positioned as to allow the maximum flow of water into. the device.

When it is desired to replenish the supply of cleaning compound held by theyessel '12, the ring 36 isrotated to move the cam lugs 41 (and 42 out of engagement, after which the ring is coaxially moved away from the body member I!) to expose the plate 34. After the plate 34 has been lifted from the wall element I4, the interior of the vessel 12 is exposed and can be quite easily again filled with the cleaning compound being used. After the supply of cleaning compound has been replenished the plate 34 can be again placed in position on the plate I4 and to assure alignment of the openings 33 with the fingers 32 the plate 34 is preferably formed with a cylindrical thickened portion 55 at the center thereof which forms an indexing means for properly locating the plate 34 to insure easyand'ready. insertion of the fingers 32 into the openings- 33. With the plate 34 properly located, the ring 36 can be again mounted to the flange by merelyrotating the same a distance sufficient to again bring the cam lugs 4| and 42 into engagement. I It should now beg-understood that the device of the .present invention provides a means for supplying to thebristles 54 a solution of a cleaning compound and waterv or clear water as desired. The means for selecting either a solution of cleaning compound and water or clear water is .but a single actuator, which obviates any confusionwhere two separate actuators are used to control the spray discharged fromthe device. As all of the apertured members of thedevice are easily accessible, there is no danger of the device becoming clogged with foreign matter during use. The apertures 28 and 29 can be quite easily cleaned of foreign matter by removal of the closure I1, and apertures 44 and .43 by removal of the bristle mounting board 35.

Although the now preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and disclosed herein, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto but is susceptible to changes in form and detail within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A washing device of the type described, comprising: a pair of substantially cylindrical, open ended, nested enclosures, the wall of the inner enclosure adjacent the open end thereof being integrally formed with the closed end of the outer enclosure whereby the open ends of said enclosures are oppositely facing; the transverse end closing wall of each enclosure being formed with a plurality of spaced apertures; means for closing the open end of the outer enclosure; an apertured plate facewisely engaging the apertured wall of the inner enclosure; a second apertured plate facewisely engaging the apertured wall of said outer enclosure; means carried by said closing means for simultaneously rotating both of said plates relative to the apertured walls engaged thereby, the apertures of said first plate and the wall engaged thereby being so spaced and arranged'relative to the spacing and arrangement of the apertures of said second plate and the wall engaged thereby that the last named apertures are out of registry when the first named apertures are in registry; and means for supplying a liquid to the interior of said outer enclosure, the registry of the apertures of said first plate and the wall engaged thereby establishing communication between the interiors of said enclosures whereby water delivered into said outer enclosure flows into the inner enclosure to intermix with a supply of a cleaning material held thereby and the resulting solution is discharged through the apertures of said second plate formed in the portion of the same extending across the open end of said inner enclosure, the registry of the apertures in the outer portion of said second plate and the wall of the outer enclosure engaged thereby, closing communication between the interiors of said enclosures and affording communication between the interior of said outer enclosure and the exterior thereof; and a perforated brush detachably mounted to said outer enclosure for receiving the discharge through said the second plate and holding, the latter in engagement with .the apertured wall of'said outer enclosure. 1

2. A washing device of the type described,,com prising: .a containerjmeans for supplying water to the interior of said' container; a vessel mounted in said container; a plate engaging .the one wall of said vessel, said plate beingformed with a plurality of apertures and movable relative to said vessel toselectively bring the apertures therein into and out of registry with a plurality of apertures formed in the wall of said vessel engaged thereby to afford variablecommunication between the interior of said container and vessel; a second plate having a plurality ofapertures formed therein; said last named plate being movable relative to an apertured Wall portion of said container; with which it facewisely engages whereby the apertures of said second plate can be selectively brought into and out of registry with theapertures of said wall portion thereby affording variable communication between" the interior and exterior of said container; means forproducing a relative movement between said first plate and the apertured-wall of said vessel and between said second plate and the apertured wall portion of said containerQthe apertures'zof said first plate and the Wall engaged thereby being so spaced and arranged relative to the spacing and arrangement of the apertures of said second plate and wall engagedthereby that the last named apertures are out of registry when the first named apertures'are in registry; and means for holding said second plate in facewise engagement with said apertured wall portion of the container; said means including'a brush, comprising a plurality of bristles and 'a mountingmeans therefor substantially. coe t' nsive with said secondplat'eQ 1 acoasos with a plurality of apertures formed in the wall of said vessel engaged thereby to afford variable communication between the interior of said container and vessel; a second plate having a plurality of apertures formed therein facewisely engaging the apertured wall of said container and transvers ely extending across the open end of said vessel; said last named plate being movable relative to said apertured wall of said container whereby the apertures of said second plate can be selectively brought into and out of registry with the apertures of said wall, thereby afiordingvariable communication between the interior and exterior or" said container; and means for producing a relative movement between said first plate andthe apertured wall of said vessel and between said second plate and the aperturedwall portion of said container, the apertures of said first plate and the wall engaged thereby being so spaced and arranged relative to the spacing and arrangement of the apertures of said second plate and wall engaged thereby that the last named apertures are out of registry when the first named apertures are in registry.

4. A washing device of the type described, comprising: a container; means for supplying water to the interior of said container; a vessel mounted in said container; a plate engaging the one wall of saidv vessel, said plate being formed with a plurality of apertures and movable relative to said vessel to selectively bring the apertures therein into and out of registry with a plurality of apertures formed in the wall of said vessel engaged thereby to afford variable communication between the interior of said container and vessel; a second plate having a plurality of apertures formed therein; said last named plate being movable relative to an apertured wall portion of said container with which it facewisely engages whereby the apertures of said second plate can be selectively brought into and out of registry with the apertures of said wall portion thereby affording variable communication between the interior and exterior of said container; and means for producing a relative movement between said first plate and the apertured wall of said vessel and between said second plate and the apertured wall portion of 'said container, the apertures of said first plate'and the wall engaged thereby being so spaced and arranged relative to the spacing and arrangement of the apertures of said second plate and wall engaged thereby that the last named apertures are out of registry when the first named apertures are in registry.

5. A washing device of the type described, comprising: a container having an opening in an apertured wall portion thereof and open at the opposite end; a closure for said open end; a handle projecting from said container and having a passage leading from the one end thereof to the interior of said container; means carried at the end of said handle for attachment to a water supplying source; an open ended vessel centrally carried within'said container .Ior receiving material to be mixed with the water; said vessel closing the opening in said apertured'wall portion and being provided with at least one apertured wall; an apertured plate held in facewise engagement with the apertured wall of said vessel and movable relative thereto; a second apertured plate extending across the open end of said vessel and facewisely engaging the apertured wall portion ofsaid container; said wall portion being movable relative to saidsecond plate; manually operable means for mo ving said first plate relative to the apertured wallof said vessel; and means for moving said apertured wall portion of saidcontainer relative to said second plate upon operation ofv said manually operable means; the apertures in said first plate and wall being so spaced as to be in registry in one relative position of said vessel and first plate, the apertures in said second plate and wall portion being so spaced as to be out of registry in said position but, movable into registry upon operation of said manually operable means to move said vesseland plate to a relative position in which the aperture therein are out of registry. V

6. A washing device of the type described,comprising: a container having an opening in an apertured wall portion thereof; a handle projecting from said container and having a passage leading from the oneend thereof tothe interior of said container; means carried at the end of; said handle for attachment to a water supplying source; an open ended vessel centrally carried within said container for receiving material to be mixed with the water; said vessel closing the opening in said apertured wall portion and being provided with at least one apertured wall; an apertured plate held in facewise engagement with the apertured wall, of said vessel and movable relative thereto; an apertured second plate extending across the open end of said vessel and facewisely engaging the apertured wall portion of said container; said wall portion being movable relative to said second plate; manually operablemeans for moving said first plate relative to the apertured wall of said vessel and said apertured wall portion of said container relative to said second plate; the apertures in said first plate and the wall of said vessel being so spaced as to bein registry in one relative position of said vessel and first plate, the apertures in said second plate and wall portion being so spaced as to be out of registry in. said position but movable into registry upon operation of said manually operable means to movesaid vessel andplate to a relative position in which the apertures therein are out of registry, registry of the apertures in said first plate and wall affording communication between the interiors of said vessel and container whereby water entering said container flows into said vessel to intermix with the material held thereby for discharge through the apertures of said second plate; and means for varying the flow of water into said container.

'7. A washing device of the type described, comprising: a pair of substantially cylindricahopen ended, nested enclosures integrally formed with the open ends thereof oppositely facing; the transverse end closing wall of each enclosure be ing formed with a plurality of spaced apertures; means for closing the open end of the outer enclosure; an-apertured plate facewisely engaging the apertured wall of the inner enclosure; a sec: ond apertured plate facewisely engaging the apertured wall of said outer enclosure; means for simultanecusly rotating both of said plates relative to the apertured walls engaged thereby, the apertures of said first plate and the wall engaged thereby being so spaced and arranged relative to the spacing and arrangement of the apertures of said second plate and the wall engaged thereby that the last named apertures are out of registry when the first named apertures are in registry; and means for supplying a liquid to the interior 01' said outer enclosure, the registry of theapertures of said first plate and the wall engaged thereby establishing communication between the interiors of said enclosures whereby water delivered into said outer enclosure flows into the inner enclosure to intermix with a cleaning material held thereby and the intermixed water and material is discharged through the apertures of said second plate formed in the portion of the second plate extending across the open end of said inner enclosure, the registry of the apertures of said second plate and the wall engaged thereby closing the communication between the interiors of said enclosures whereby water supplied to the interior of said outer enclosure is discharged therefrom through the aligned apertures of the said second plate and the wall engaged thereby.

8. A washing device of the type described, comprising: a pair of substantially cylindrical, open ended, nested enclosures, the open end of the innerenclosure being integrally formed with the closed end of said outer enclosure whereby the open ends of said enclosures face in opposite directions; the transverse'end closing wall of each enclosure being formed with a plurality of spaced apertures; means for closing the open end of the outer enclosure; an apertured plate facewisely engaging the apertured wall of the inner enclo-- sure; a second apertured plate iacewisely engaging the apertured wall of said outer enclosure; means carried by the means closing the open end oi! said outer enclosure for simultaneously rotating both of said plates relative to the apertured walls engaged thereby, the apertures of said first plate and the wall engaged thereby being so spaced aand arranged relative to the spacing and arrangement of the apertures of said second plate and the wall engaged thereby that the last named apertures are out of registry when the first named apertures are in registry; and means for supplying a liquid to the interior of said outer enclosure, the registry of the apertures of said first plate and the wall engaged thereby establishing communication between the interiors 01 said enclosures whereby water delivered into said outer enclosure flows into the inner enclosure to intermix with a supply of a cleaning material held thereby and the resulting solution ond plate formed in-the portion of the second plate extending across the open end of said inner enclosure, the registry of the apertures in the higher portion of said second plate and the wall of the outer enclosure engaged thereby closing the communication between the interiors of said enclosures and affording communicationbetween the interior of said outer enclosure and the exterior thereof.

9. A washing device of the type described, comprising: a pair of substantially cylindrical, open ended, nested enclosures integrally formed with the open ends thereof oppositely facing; the transverse end closing wall of each enclosure being formed with a plurality of spaced apertures; means for closing the open end of the outer enclosure; an apertured plate facewisely engaging the apertured wall of the inner enclosure; a second apertured plate facewisely engaging the apertured wall of said outer enclosure; means carried by said closing means for simultaneously rotating both of said plates relative to the apertured walls engaged thereby, the apertures of said first plate and the wall engaged thereby being so spaced and arranged relative to the spacing and arrangement of the apertures of said second plate and the wall engaged thereby that the last named apertures are out of registry when the first named apertures are in registry; means for supplying a liquid to the interior of said outer enclosure, the registry of the apertures of said first plate and the wall engaged thereby establishing communication between the interiors of said enclosures whereby water delivered into said outer enclosure flows into the inner enclosure to intermix with a supply of a cleaning material held thereby and the resulting solution is discharged through the apertures of said second plate formed in the central portion of the same extending across the open end of said inner enclosure, the registry of the apertures in the Outer portion of said second plate and the wall of the outer enclosure engaged thereby closing the communication between the interiors of said enclosures and afiording communication between the interior of said outer enclosure and the exterior thereof and means for varying the amount of water supplied to said outer enclosure, whereby the rate oi. intermixing of said cleaning material and water can be varied.

RAYMOND B. MAESTAS.

No references cited. 

